Articles by Jennifer Derenne, M.D. and Gene Beresin

February 26, 2019

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Digital Media and Body Image

Este artículo está disponible en español. When it comes to social media and body image, there are a lot of questions. Gene Beresin and I have worked with individuals struggling with eating disorders, largely girls and young women and their families for years. As the psychiatric director of an inpatient medical stabilization unit for malnutrition, I […]

February 22, 2019

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Oscars Special – Shrinking It Down

You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, SoundCloud, and most podcast apps – just search for “Shrinking It Down”.  Why on earth are two child psychiatrists talking about the 2019 Academy Awards? It’s not just for fun, even though it’s fun, too. But, rather, because there is so much in this year’s nominated films […]

February 8, 2019

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Another Shooting – An Important Moment to Comfort and Talk With Our Kids

Perhaps the hardest, certainly the saddest, and without question the most frustrating thing about sharing this blog post is that we have shared it now again and again over the past several years. Please do not allow the frequency of the recent, awful events to ever seem routine. The statistics that we share are still […]

February 7, 2019

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Intimacy and the Teenage Brain – Shrinking It Down

You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, SoundCloud, and most podcast apps.  Intimacy. Is there anything else in the teenage brain? It’s a wonder they make it through school after adolescence hits! We’ll be honest, we didn’t know what direction this conversation would take, but it turned out a great example of how talking […]

January 23, 2019

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, featuring Susan Sprich, PhD – Shrinking It Down

You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, SoundCloud, and most podcast apps.  Did you know that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most evidence-based psychosocial treatments we have for mental health issues? Today, its use goes beyond treatment for anxiety disorders and depression to application for a wide range of challenges including psychosis, body […]

January 9, 2019

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

New Year’s Evolution – Shrinking It Down

You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, SoundCloud, and most podcast apps.  What’s the difference between a “resolution” and an “evolution”? In the context of New Year’s, even though they begin with the best intentions, resolutions often come with a lot of pressure to follow through. But an evolution allows you to grow and […]

December 18, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Shrinking It Down: Home for the Holidays

You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, SoundCloud, and most podcast apps.  Here we are, in the peak of the holiday season. Do you feel joyful? Do you feel down? Are you simply overwhelmed? Whatever it is you’re feeling, it’s okay, and we guarantee you’re not alone. The holidays mean different things for […]

December 10, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Living With Technology – Shrinking It Down

Technology. Some days it feels like we can’t live with it, but in today’s world we certainly can’t live without it. And what’s the mental health impact on our kids and teens who seem consumed by their smartphones and other digital media 24/7? The short answer is: It’s a gray area. There are both pros […]

December 6, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Coping With the Wintertime Blahs (SAD) – Shrinking It Down

You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, and most podcast apps. It’s cold. It’s gray. It’s dark. This time of year, a lot of folks feel pretty blah. And not just those with depression or other mental health disorders. It can affect anyone. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing. But […]

November 21, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Helping Kids with Challenging Behavior, featuring Stuart Ablon, PhD – Shrinking It Down

You can also listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts – just search for ‘Shrinking It Down’. Rewards. Punishments. Incentives. What parent hasn’t used one or all of these when trying to navigate challenging behavior in their kids? These might be great strategies when the root of the problem is a lack of […]